Bottle case



Feb. 20, 1934.

2 sheets sneet 1 Filed Nov. 9, 1951 Feb. 20, 1934. D. A. McCOWAN BOTTLECASE Filed Nov. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InV'en to)". Dav/ d I.ll-Cowa't Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED 's 'mrtzs PATENT oFncE 1,948,041BOTTLE CASE David A; McGowan, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ApplicationNovember 9, 1931. Serial No. 573,885

' 4 C laims. (01. 220-21) 7 The principal objects of this invention areto devise. a case particularly adapted for use in the service deliveryof bottles such as used for soft drinks, milk, etc., which will be lightin weight,

easy to handle and will protect the bottles from breakage through roughand carelesshandling of the case.

Further objects are to form a case which will occupy the minimum ofspace and may be easily and safely stacked either for storage ortransportation.

The principal features of the invention consist in the novelconstruction of asheet metal receptacle provided with resilient meansfor effectively maintaining the bottles in spaced relation and fromaccidental displacement and consequent damage. I 1

Furtherimportant features comprise the novel formation of the bottom andrim of the case whereby secure nesting is effected and alsotheconstruction of the socket handles for handling the case.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved caseshowing a bottle arranged 15 therein.

Figure 2 vis a longitudinal mid-sectional view showing a bottle inposition therein and in dotted lines the corner of another case stackedthereon.

Figure 3 is a plan section of one half of the case taken on the line 2 2of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 3showing a bottle in a tilted position with its bottom engaging one ofthe cone-shaped projections in the bottom.

Figure 5 is a full size cross sectional detail through-a portion of thebottle-holding partition and case showing the means forfastening thesame.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the partition showing amodified arrangement of friction surfacing for holding the bottles inplace. j Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a furthermodification of friction means for holding the bottles fromdisplacement.

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the construction ofone of the raised protuberances in the bottom and means for cushioningthe bottle.

Figure 9 is a view similarto Figure 8 showing a modified means of sounddeadening. v

Figure 10 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 9.

Figures 11 and 12 are sectional views showing the handhold structure inmodified form. It is common practice to provide bottle-carrytre for thebottom which fits within the bead 2 ing cases with partitions forseparating the bottles one from the other, particularly where the caseis turned up on its end, so that the bottles will be 'held in place whenthe case is being carried in on one hand.

Such cases have been mostly made of wood on account of cheapness ofmanufacture and when they are stacked upon a truck there is great danger of the cases slipping and falling one from the other resulting inthe breakage ofthe bottles and loss of their contents. Y

When the type of case referred to is being carried on end by one hand,or if it is placed on end the partitions will not positively retain thebottles in their proper position in the case and the liability of thebottles shifting and dropping from the case lessens the efficiency ofthe carrier.

- right edge 5 adapted to closely engage the side wall and to besoldered, brazed or welded thereto; The stepped flange provides adepressed cenof the upper edge of another case when they are stacked oneupon the other.

A horizontal partition "6 is arranged about midway of the height of theside walls and is formed This sheet is formed with a ings is slightlylarger than the bottles 9 that are to be arranged therein.

In forming the partition 6, the metal is flanged around the openings 8and friction contact sur-- faces are provided on said flanges to engagethe bottles.

In the form illustrated in Figures-2, 4 and 5, the metal plate includingthe flanges is 'completely covered with a surfacing of resilientfriction material, preferably rubber, deposited by a deposition processover the entire area.

A partition formed in this manner is extremely desirable, as it providesresilient contact surfaces around the bottles to prevent their rattlingand the friction surfaces of the flanges grip the bottles upon theirturning slightly so that they of such covered material as herein definedis entirely new.

It may be found desirable to insert rubber gaskets or rings such as areshown in Figure 6. These rings are flanged to lap around and grip theedges of the flanged rims of the openings 8 in the partition 6. Theserings perform the same service as the rubber-coated sheet in theirfriction and anti-rattling qualities.

Another modification of the friction contact and anti-rattler feature isillustrated in Figure 'l in which rubber plugs 11 are inserted throughholes 12 in the flanges 13.

It is extremely desirable that the bottles when placed in the casesassume a vertical position and that this vertical position shall besubstantially maintained. In order to ensure the positioning of thebottles, the bottom 3 is stamped with rounded conical protuberances 14.These are spaced in alignment between the longitudinal and transverserows of bottles so that a bottle when insertedthrough one of theopenings 8 will drop against the rounded surface of one of theseprotuberances and be guided into a centralized position. It may be founddesirable to cushion the bottom of the bottles in contact with thebottom of the case and in Figure 8 flanged rubber rings 15 are securedin position surrounding the conical members 14. These are so placed thatthe bottoms of the bottles will rest upon the rings while the edges willengage the flanges and thus the rattling of glass upon metal will beavoided.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10 a cap 16 of rubber or other suitablematerial provided with a plurality of radial strips 17 is secured overthe protuberance 14 and the radial strips form an anti-rattle andcushioning element for the bottles.

Hand holes 18 are formed in the ends 19 of the case and these may beformed by pressing the metal of the case inwardly as shown in Figures 1and 2 or they may be made as shown in detail in Figure 11 where aseparate piece of metal is seamed into the end of the case. In both instances the metal of the hand hole extends inwardly in a substantiallyhorizontal position from the top and curves outwardly and downwardlytherefrom. This straighthorizontalarrangement in'the top provides anexceptionally good hold or grip for the fingers, particularly whenhandling boxes that are stacked rather high or in lifting them from areplacing them on a truck.

It may be found desirable to leave the hand hole open and to form themetal stamped out to curl upwardly as shown in Figure 12 to form a handgrip and incidentally reinforce the metal end.

It will be readily understood that a box constructed in the mannerdescribed will be extremely rugged, the sheet metal sides of the caseare supported intermediate of their height by the central partition, thesize of the case is restricted to its minimum to contain the desirednumber of bottles, there is no lost space in transportation and noexcessive bulk, and what is most important, is that the gross weight ofthe container is considerably less than the cheapest form of boxesor'cases and. this is a very important item in present-day conditions oftransportation,

What I claim as my invention is:--

1. A bottle case having sheet metal walls and a bottom, a sheet metalpartition secured intermediate of the height of said walls and havingflanged openings, said sheet metal partition having its outer edgesturned upwardly in a flange to extend parallel to the walls of said caseand having the flanges of said openings turned downwardly, the entirebody of said flanged sheet being covered on both sides with a thicknessof rubber, to act as a frictional cushioning and sounddeadening agent,the side flanges being securely riveted to the walls of the case andinsulated therefrom by the thickness of said rubber covering.

2. In a bottle case having sheet metal walls, a partition securedintermediate of the height of said walls and having flanged openingstherein arranged in rows, resilient friction material surrounding saidflanged openings to engage the bottles in cushioning and frictionalcontact, a bottom secured to the walls of said case and having aplurality of raised protuberances presenting "inclined surfaces andarranged in alignment between the openings in said partition, and meansarranged on said bottom to form a cushioning contactfor the bottoms ofthe bottles.

3. In a bottle case having sheet metal walls, a partition securedintermediate of the height of said walls and having flanged openingstherein arranged in rows, resilient friction material surrounding saidflanged openings to engage the bottles in cushioning and frictionalcontact, a

bottom secured to the walls of said case and having a plurality ofraised protuberances presenting inclined surfaces and arranged inalignment between the openings in said partition, and rubber cushioningmembers secured to said bottom between said protuberances and adapted toengage the bottom side and peripheral edges of the bottoms of thebottles.

4. A bottle case having a sheet metal wall. a

partition secured intermediate of the height of said wall and havingflanged openings, the flanges of said openings having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced openings therein, and sections of resilientcushioning material fitting in said openings and presenting frictionalcontact with the bottles.

DAVID A. McCOWAN.

